Zina Kumok Profile Photo

Zina Kumok

Zina Kumok is a personal finance writer dedicated to explaining complex financial topics so real people can understand them. As a former newspaper reporter, she has covered everything from murder trials to the Final Four.

About Zina Kumok

Current Role

Personal finance writer

Expertise

  • Student Loans
  • Credit Scores
  • Personal Loans
  • Banking
  • Education Planning

Achievements

  • Three-time Finalist For Best Personal Finance Contributor At The Plutus Awards

Degrees

  • Bachelor's degree in journalism from Indiana University

Personal Finance Experience

Zina has been a personal finance writer for almost a decade. In that time, she has written for prestigious publications and household brands.

She has also worked as a financial coach helping real consumers tackle their loans. She paid off her student loans in three years and documented the progress on her blog.

Latest from Zina Kumok

Are Credit Union Student Loans Right for You? Compare the Benefits and Top Options in 2024

Credit unions may be able to offer student loans with better terms than traditional banks....

TD Bank Student Loan Alternatives

TD Bank doesn’t offer student loans in the United States. Instead, it offers a line of credit in Canada. For U.S. students, consider...

American Express Student Loan Alternatives

While you can’t get a student loan directly from American Express, here are some popular alternatives to consider.

U.S. Bank Student Loans: Why the Program Ended and How It Impacts Borrowers

U.S. Bank ended its student loan program. We'll explain why that happened and what alternatives...

What Are Uncertified Student Loans?

If you need to borrow more to cover education-related costs, you can turn to uncertified student loans.

Capital One Student Loan Alternatives

Capital One does not offer student loans. We'll review some popular alternative student loan lenders below.

Low-Interest Student Loans

Keeping your student loan interest rate low helps limit the total cost of your loan. Federal student loans offer standardized rates that are...

How to Buy a House With Bad Credit: Compare Your Home Loan Options

Having bad credit doesn’t disqualify you from getting a mortgage. First-time home buyer programs like...

Student Loans and Divorce: What Happens to the Debt?

Divorcing while you have student loans can be difficult to manage, and the outcomes vary...